From Father Steven - January 26, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • January 24, 2025

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Please see the information below about the Jubilee Year 2025 which officially opened on December 24, 2024, with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter by the Holy Father, who then presided over the celebration of the Night Mass of the Lord's Birth inside the Basilica. The year will end in Rome on January 6, 2026. Archbishop Richard Henning officially opened the Jubilee Year in Boston on December 29, 2024 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The year in Boston will end on December 28, 2025. Our parish has been selected as a place of Pilgrimage for this Jubilee Year! We have a lot of exciting things planned so please stay tuned.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

What Is the Jubilee Year and How Can We Embrace Its Graces? Every so often, the Catholic Church invites us to celebrate a special period of grace and renewal called a Jubilee Year. This tradition, deeply rooted in Scripture, is a time of spiritual growth, mercy, and renewal, offering us a chance to draw closer to God and one another. But what exactly is a Jubilee Year, and how can we participate in its blessings?

 

The idea of a Jubilee comes from the Old Testament. In the Book of Leviticus (25:8-13), God instructed the Israelites to observe a Jubilee every 50 years. During this time, debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was restored to its original owners. It was a time of liberation, justice, and renewal—a way for God’s people to start fresh, trusting in His providence. The Church has adopted this concept in her own way. The first Christian Jubilee was proclaimed in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII, and since then, the Church has periodically declared Jubilee Years, sometimes every 25 years or for special occasions. The most recent Jubilee was in 2015-2016, called the Jubilee of Mercy by Pope Francis.

 

A Jubilee Year is meant to help us experience God’s boundless mercy and love. It often includes:

 

• Opportunities for reconciliation: Special emphasis is placed on the Sacrament of Confession, where we can encounter God’s forgiveness in a profound way.

• Holy Doors: During a Jubilee, certain churches (often cathedrals or basilicas) have Holy Doors that are opened for the faithful. Walking through these doors is a symbolic act of leaving sin behind and entering into a new life of grace. (This year the Pope designated Holy Doors only in Rome. However the bishops have chosen parishes and shrines to be places of pilgrimage where pilgrims can receive the same blessings/indulgences).

• Indulgences: The Church offers indulgences during a Jubilee Year, which are special graces that remove the temporal punishment due to sin. These graces can also be offered for loved ones who have passed away.

 

The Jubilee Year isn’t just a historical or theological concept—it’s a real opportunity for each of us to encounter God in a deeper way. Here are a few ways we can take advantage of the graces offered during a Jubilee Year:

 

1. Seek Reconciliation: Make time to go to Confession. This sacrament is one of the greatest gifts of the Church, allowing us to start fresh with a clean heart and renewed spirit.

2. Visit a Pilgrimage Site: If a church in our area has a designated a Pilgrimage site (like ours and others), go there on a pilgrimage. Reflect on this as an act of spiritual renewal and commitment to living in God’s grace.

3. Deepen Your Prayer Life: A Jubilee is a time to reconnect with God through prayer. Whether it’s attending daily Mass, praying the rosary, or spending time in Eucharistic Adoration, these practices help us grow in holiness.

4. Perform Works of Mercy: Use this time to care for others, especially those in need. This can include visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the sorrowful, or simply offering kindness to those around you.

5. Offer Indulgences for Loved Ones: Pray for the souls in purgatory and offer indulgences for them. This act of charity connects us with the communion of saints and reminds us of our shared journey to heaven.

 

A Jubilee Year is an open invitation from God to experience His mercy in a deeper way. It’s like a spiritual reset button, a chance to leave behind the burdens of sin, forgive others, and live in greater harmony with God’s will. As we embrace the Jubilee, let us remember the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). May this special time be one of renewal for our parish, our families, and our own hearts. Let’s take full advantage of this holy time and draw closer to the One who loves us more than we can imagine.

 

 

From Father Steven - October 4, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • October 2, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, As your pastor, I am charged with the responsibility of the care of souls of everyone who lives in the parish territory, even if they are not Catholics. The care is summarized in the three “functions” of every priest, that is, to teach, govern, and sanctify. Today I would like to exercise the first office, even if it is a bit controversial. Already in Biblical times, life has always been considered sacred by everyone. Moreover, the Greek philosophers also have defended the right to life, even to the point of including it in the oath that every doctor made in ancient times “to do no harm.” It is true that times have changed, and we live in a totally different world. However, the TRUTH has not changed. Whether religious or philosophical thoughts, they all have agreed that life is sacred no matter who, where, when and it should be defended at all times, no “ifs, ands, or buts". Pope Saint John Paul II has written, in 1995, a beautiful encyclical Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life). If you have never heard of it, I highly recommend you read what he wrote on the value and inviolability of human life. It is important to stress that we are not anti-abortionist, or anti-euthanasia, anti-deportation, but we are in favor of all lives, regardless of age, race, sex, condition of life, political party, etc. In this encyclical the Pope has declared that society has adopted a “culture of death.” He exhorts us to understand that we the issues affecting life “to make us all fully aware that we are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the "culture of death" and the "culture of life". We find ourselves not only "faced with" but necessarily "in the midst of" this conflict: we are all involved, and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life.” (#28) This is not a matter that we can remove ourselves because we are uncomfortable, or it does not express our ideas. He continues “For us too Moses' invitation rings out loud and clear: ‘See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. ... I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live’ (Dt 30:15, 19). This invitation is very appropriate for us who are called day by day to the duty of choosing between the ‘culture of life’ and the ‘culture of death’.” We are not ideological, religious, or fanatic activists. We are speaking because we believe human life has an inherent dignity that must be respected and defended. In the month of October, the Church has always observed “Respect Life Month”. Life means everything in between conception and natural death. We will be promoting different activities that highlight different stages of life. This week we begin with the baby’s. We will have a bassinet from birthright pregnancy help center which we will be collecting clothing (boys and girls 0-2T), diapers (sizes 5-7), wipes, baby products, and monetary donations (write and mail a check for birthright). Also, we will be collecting signatures to repeal the law recently approved allowing the abortion throughout the pregnancy for any reason. (PLEASE OBSERVE WHERE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE - the forms are according to the town you are registered to vote in). Next week the Knights of Columbus will be doing their annual Tootsie Roll drive for children with disabilities for the Special Olympics. Next week too, we will gather as our Archbishop recommended to pray for life. We will do our 24Hr adoration from Sunday into Columbus day. Please set a time to come to pray for life. I conclude with another quote from John Paul II (same encyclical), “To all the members of the Church, the people of life and for life, I make this most urgent appeal, that together we may offer this world of ours new signs of hope, and work to ensure that justice and solidarity will increase and that a new culture of human life will be affirmed, for the building of an authentic civilization of truth and love.” (EV #6) This is what the Church is about, namely, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.” (Jn 13:34) God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - September 27, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • September 25, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are settling into your Fall schedule! We have a lot of exciting things going on here in the Parish! Please see the letter below from Gabriella Lindhurst our Music Director about our new upcoming Adult & Children’s Choirs starting up October 1st. God Bless, Fr. Steven —————————————————————— Growing in Faith, Fellowship, and Song It is hard to believe that I have now been serving as the Music Director at Immaculate Conception Parish for nearly ten months! When I first arrived in January, I was excited to begin this new chapter, but I could not have anticipated how warmly I would be welcomed into this parish community. Over these past several months, I have had the joy of getting to know many parishioners, families, cantors, volunteers, and staff members, and I am deeply grateful for the kindness and support you have shown me. One of the greatest joys of my ministry has been getting to know our parish through music. Each weekend, I have the privilege of helping lead our communities in song at our English Masses, and I have also greatly enjoyed working with our Spanish and Brazilian communities. Through these experiences, I have seen again and again how music can bring people together and help us enter more deeply into prayer and the celebration of the liturgy. Earlier this summer, I shared my hope of reestablishing our Adult Choir and beginning a new English Children’s Choir. I am very excited to share that the time has finally arrived! Both choirs will begin rehearsals this coming Thursday, October 1st. The Adult Choir will rehearse on Thursdays from 6:00pm - 7:15pm, beginning October 1st. The choir will primarily sing at the Saturday 4:00pm Mass, as well as at some special liturgies throughout the year. Our first rehearsal is an open invitation to anyone who is interested in possibly joining the choir . There will be no auditions beforehand. I would love to meet everyone who is interested, get to know you, your voices, and your musical backgrounds, and begin building this new choir together. Whether you have years of experience singing in a choir or have simply thought, “I’d love to try that someday,” you are warmly invited to come to our first rehearsal! The Adult Choir will be an opportunity not only to share our musical gifts, but also to form friendships and serve our parish community. My hope is that our rehearsals will be a place where we can grow together in music, prayer, and fellowship while preparing to help lead our parish in worship. I am also excited to begin our English Children’s Choir, which is open to children ages 7 and up and will be separate from CCD. Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays from 4:30pm - 5:30pm, beginning October 1st. The Children’s Choir will sing approximately once each month at the 11:00am Sunday Mass. Through this choir, children will have the opportunity to develop their musical skills, grow in confidence, make new friends, and learn more about the important role that music plays in our Catholic faith. Most importantly, I hope it will give our young people another way to become active participants in the life of our parish and to discover the joy of using their gifts in service to God and others. As we begin these new ministries, I invite you to consider whether God may be calling you—or your children—to become more involved in the musical life of our parish. Music ministry takes many forms: singing in a choir, serving as a cantor or instrumentalist, or simply joining wholeheartedly in the singing at Mass. Every voice and every gift has a place, and together our music can become an offering of prayer. If you are interested in the Adult Choir or Children’s Choir, or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at gabriella5110@gmail.com. I would be very happy to speak with you! Please keep both of our new choirs in your prayers as we begin this new chapter of music ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve this community, and I look forward to growing together in faith, fellowship, and song.  God Bless, Gabriella